Antirrhinum plant named ‘Sulte Litpinka’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Antirrhinum  plant named ‘Sulte Litpinka’, characterized by its outwardly spreading, decumbent and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and numerous flowers that are light pink in color.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Antirrhinum×hybridacultivar Sulte Litpinka.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAntirrhinum plant, commercially known as a trailing Snapdragon,botanically known as Antirrhinum hybrida, and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name Sulte Litpinka.

The new Antirrhinum is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Gilroy, Calif. The objective of the breeding programis to create new early and freely flowering Antirrhinums with trailingand mounded plant habit and attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Antirrhinum originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in September, 2000 of a proprietary selection of Antirrhinumhybrida identified as code number 177B, not patented, as the female, orseed parent, with a proprietary selection of Antirrhinum hybridaidentified as code number 144, not patented, as the male, or pollenparent. The new Antirrhinum was selected as a single plant from theresulting progeny of the cross-pollination in a controlled environmentin Gilroy, Calif. in May, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttingssince May, 2001, in Gilroy, Calif. has shown that the unique features ofthis new Antirrhinum are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Sulte Litpinka have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity anddaylength without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sulte Litpinka’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Sulte Litpinka’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading, decumbent and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Numerous flowers that are light pink in color.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of thenew Antirrhinum differed from plants of the female parent selection inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Antirrhinum flowered more uniformly across        the plant than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Antirrhinum flowered earlier than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Antirrhinum and the female parent selection        differed in flower color as plants of the female parent        selection had red-colored flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of thenew Antirrhinum differed from plants of the male parent selection in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Antirrhinum were more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Antirrhinum flowered more uniformly across        the plant than plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Antirrhinum and the male parent selection        differed in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        had white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Antirrhinum can be compared to plants of the cultivarLuminaire Pink, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inGilroy, Calif., plants of the new Antirrhinum differed from plants ofthe cultivar Luminaire Pink in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Antirrhinum were smaller and        lighter green in color than leaves of plants of the cultivar        Luminaire Pink.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Antirrhinum were lighter pink in        color than flowers of plants of the cultivar Luminaire Pink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Antirrhinum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical plant of ‘Sulte Litpinka’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers and leaves of ‘Sulte Litpinka’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Sulte Litpinka have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse during the summer with day temperaturesranging from 24 to 29° C., night temperatures ranging from 13 to 18° C.and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Plants used for thephotographs and description were about 12 weeks from planting rootedcuttings. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Antirrhinum hybrida cultivar Sulte    Litpinka.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Antirrhinum hybrida            identified as code number 177B, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Antirrhinum hybrida            identified as code number 144, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 12 to 16            days at 21 to 23° C.        -   Time to develop roots, summer and winter.—About 25 to 30            days at 21 to 23° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Annual flowering plant; initially upright, then low            trailing and outwardly spreading; decumbent; uniformly            mounded plant form. Freely branching habit; about seven            basal branches per plant. Pinching enhances development of            lateral branches.        -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, patio            containers and landscape applications.        -   Plant height.—About 12 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 40 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderately vigorous; moderate growth rate.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About            2.5 mm. Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Texture: Densely            pubescent. Color: 146B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite before flowering;            alternate after flowers develop; simple. Length: About            3.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Broadly            acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate,            arcuate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: 147B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: 147C. Fully expanded            leaves, upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: 147B. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 147C.            Petiole length: About 1 cm. Petiole diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces: 147B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single bi-labiate flowers arranged on            terminal racemes; flowers opposite. Freely flowering habit,            usually about eight to ten open flowers and about three            flower buds per raceme. Flowers face outwardly. Flowers not            persistent. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, spring            until autumn; flowering continuous during this period.            Plants start flowering about eight weeks after planting            rooted cuttings.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant.        -   Flower length.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower width.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 4 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: 162D tinged with 181D.        -   Corolla.—Shape/arrangement: Broadly tubular; five modified            petals; upper two and lower three petals fused. Petal lobe            apices: Rounded. Petal lobe margin: Entire, slightly            serrate. Length, upper petal lobes: About 2.5 cm. Length,            lower petal lobes: About 1.3 cm. Width, upper petal lobes:            About 1.4 cm. Width, lower lateral petals lobes: About 1 cm.            Width, lower central petal lobe: About 7 mm. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces of petal lobes: Pubescent; velvety.            Texture, throat: Pubescent. Color: When opening, all petal            lobes, upper surface: 55D. When opening, all petal lobes,            lower surface: 56D. Fully opened, upper petal lobes, upper            surface: 155D tinged with 56A. Fully opened, lower petal            lobes, upper surface: 155D tinged with 56A; palate, 3A to 3B            to 3C; at the throat, 5C. With development, color becomes            closer to 155D. Fully opened, all petal lobes, lower            surface: 155D tinged with 56B. Tube: More gray than 55C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower; fused at            base. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: 146B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Strong; flexible. Angle: About 30 to 40° from the            stem. Color: 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: Four per            flower. Anther size: About 2 mm by 3 mm. Anther shape: Oval,            bi-lobed. Anther color: 16C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: 13B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower.            Pistil length: About 1.9 cm. Style length: About 1.5 cm.            Style color: 155A. Stigma color: 145D. Ovary color: 145C.        -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Antirrhinum have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Antirrhinum.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Antirrhinum plant named ‘SulteLitpinka’, as illustrated and described.